What If You Don't Finish NaNoWriMo?
Episode 159 ยท November 29, 2022 ยท 20 minutes
A note about this episode
I recorded this in November 2022, so a few details are dated. I mention a conference, a book signing, and a guest interview coming the following week. NaNoWriMo itself shut down in 2025. The advice works for any writing sprint, in any month.
Summary
You made it to the end of the month and your book isn't finished. Maybe you stopped writing in week one. Maybe you still have thousands of words to go. In this episode I talk about what to do next, and why an unfinished draft isn't a failure.
I share where I was with my own book at the end of that NaNoWriMo. A conference and a cold knocked me out for part of the month, and I was about ten chapters from the end. I explain why I kept going with a chapter a day, and how Parkinson's Law (work expands to fill the time you give it) explains why a firm deadline works for me.
We also look at why so many people drop off right when it's time to finish, and how to look back at that moment without judging yourself. Was it a thin outline, a busy stretch, or words that didn't feel right? Once you know, you can plan around it.
Then we zoom out. If a sprint felt too intense, that's useful information. You might do better with six or eight weeks instead of four, or with three or four books a year instead of twelve.
What you'll learn
- Why an unfinished draft at the end of November isn't a failure
- How a firm deadline can work in your favor
- How to figure out why you dropped off, and what to change
- How to choose a writing pace for December that you can sustain
- Why a six- or eight-week sprint might suit you better than four weeks
Update for 2026
Read NaNoWriMo Is Gone: Your Best Options for November 2026 for what has replaced it and how to plan your own sprint.
Keep listening and reading
- 3 Reasons Why You Should Plan a Series This Preptober
- Episode 257: What's a Better Alternative to NaNoWriMo? https://www.authorrevolution.org/257
- Episode 207: Balancing Writing and Well-Being During NaNoWriMo https://www.authorrevolution.org/207
- Episode 4: What to Do Once You Finish NaNoWriMo https://www.authorrevolution.org/4
Want the full plan?
The Rapid Release Roadmap walks you through the six-week sprint and a pace of about four books a year. If you'd like everything I teach, the Library Pass opens all 23 masterclasses for a one-time $97.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I don't finish my novel during NaNoWriMo?
Keep going. Celebrate the words you've already written, then choose a realistic schedule, whether that's every day, five days a week, or three, and stick with it until the draft is done.
Is it a failure if I don't reach 50,000 words?
No. Every word moves the book forward. Finishing the draft matters more than hitting a number by a certain date.
How do I get my motivation back after dropping off?
Look at what was going on when you stopped. Was it the outline, a busy schedule, or the words not feeling right? Once you know, you can plan around it, and the next day doesn't have to look like the day you fell off.
How long should it take to write a first draft?
It depends on you. Four weeks is intense for many writers. Six or eight weeks gives you structure with more breathing room.
Listen to the podcast
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